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Topic: SIMs and Camp Beds
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02/10/2018 at 3:48pm
Location: Derby. Outfit: T6 Hi-Top & Karsten
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Welcome to the forums, Mike.
Brands and specifics aside, I would just like to point out that these SIMs can get a bit of getting used to.
We purchased a couple of single "better quality/expensive" ones (mentioned in your list of possibles, above), to lay atop our bog standard camp beds. They weren't as comfy as I'd imagined I'd read on here... to start with!
Our temptation was to allow them to "self-inflate", then pump them up to the max! I too woke regularly, with sore hips, and a tight back! How can that be, when I've forked out a fortune, and I lay 99.4mm off the ground! (You guessed it... 10cm SIMs!)
We now love them... the same SIMs... as we have now learned not to over-inflate them! We each now know our own comfort levels for both campbed and floor scenario.
A good tip (well, it worked for us!) is to get on the SIM face down, and put ALL your body weight on 4 points... 2x elbows and 2x knees (don't include hands or feet etc!) There should be precisely 2.76mm of air between each said pointy joint, and the ground! If you hit the ground, add more air, but crucially, if you are more than half an inch (being more realistic now! LOL!) off the ground, let some air out.
Assuming you do of course have all of these four points, and assuming you don't raise yourself to this position in your sleep (!), once you spread your weight, you won't hit the ground at any stage during sleep, but critically won't have the SIM too firm either.
Depending on your camp bed, you may not have to be quite so meticulous for that scenario, but the theory still applies.
*If you've already taken this approach, then ignore everything apart from the welcome!
PS:
We recently returned from our main camping holiday in France, and whilst we were more than comfortable with said SIMs on said camp beds (main stay), we both commented that we seemed to be even more comfortable with SIMs on the floor (Overnighters en-route)... now we've learned where our comfort levels are!
Post last edited on 02/10/2018 15:52:17
------------- 2025: 6 nights and counting...
2024: 43 nights
2023: 47 nights
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2020: 24 nights
2019: 50 nights
2018: 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
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02/10/2018 at 10:04pm
Location: Outfit:
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We got our two ThermaRest DreamTime XL's back in 2008, and I have to say that they do what it says on the tin.
We join them together with there embedded connecting straps, and we also had a bespoke heavy cotton fitted cover made to add that finishing touch.
I did consider getting a double campbed, to give that of the floor feeling, but no one makes a double camp bed large enough, so I may go down the diy route to get a solution.
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02/10/2018 at 11:46pm
Location: London Outfit: Vango Kalu Hypercamp Eldorado
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Maybe you are an air bed sort of person rather than a SIM person?
I hate blow up beds and am much happier on my 2.5Cm SIM (this year upgraded to 7.5Cm). But many swear by them. Especially the double height ones. Can you borrow one and try it out?
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03/10/2018 at 2:08pm
Location: Derby. Outfit: T6 Hi-Top & Karsten
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Mike,
It might be worth you updating your profile, so we can see what your "unit" is, over on the left there...
... but for now, (rightly or wrongly!) I'm gonna presume you are in a tent, and assume again that your tent could well be a tunnel tent, with bedroom at the back?
A common dimension for these "bedrooms" is around the 2.1 to 2.2 meter mark (front to back), but of course, that's at ground level. A common design of these tent's is to have the rear wall sloping... some steeper than others.
Before buying an XL camp bed, make sure it will fit... as many don't!
Get a tape measure in your tent bedroom, and measure at the equivalent height of the bed, not at ground level!
Post last edited on 03/10/2018 14:19:31
------------- 2025: 6 nights and counting...
2024: 43 nights
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: 24 nights
2019: 50 nights
2018: 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
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05/10/2018 at 10:27pm
Location: Scotland Outfit: Yellowstone Falls and Vango F10 MK4
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Sympathise with you.
We have two outwell dreamboat xl 12cm SIMs and they are mega comfy. Key is not overdo the inflation - let the air fill them up and after 10 mins blow into a few times but not until they are mega firm.
We find them most comfy when used with a camp bed - we have the posadas XL ones. Still comfy on the floor if you don’t mind getting up and down off the ground.
We also have two single xl double height air beds. We like them too and don’t find them cold or too bouncy castle like. Key once again is not to over-inflate them to the point they’re too firm.
My preference is the camp bed and SIM combination as once they’re up, there’s no more topping up to do - unlike with the air beds. Plus, since we tend to camp in fairly remote areas for a week or two, we’d struggle to replace a burst air bed mid trip.
When I camp solo, I still take the two SIMs for a luxurious 24cm SIM - no need for the camp bed then.
------------- MAY 2017 - Loch Ken, Scotland
JUNE 2017 - Sango Sands, Durness, Scotland
AUGUST 2017 - Balloch O Dee, Galloway and Invergarry
SEPTEMBER 2017 - three brief trips
OCTOBER 2017 - hopefully one final trip before Halloween
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